Related Stories

More than one incoming hockey executive with the Maple Leafs has used Canada Day to try to remake ‘Canada’s Team’.

With new president Brendan Shanahan now having a say in changes under general manager Dave Nonis, here’s a look at how the Leafs tried to use our national birthday to their advantage over the past 15 years, usually with limited success.

* 2013 — No one questioned the value of Nonis adding David Clarkson to a meek lineup after the Boston playoff botch-up, but the cost and term made people antsy. A year later, with such a poor start to the seven-year, $36.75-million deal, those worries have multiplied.

Dave Bolland, acquired via trade, was another good bet coming off a Stanley Cup, but his problem was an early season injury that has clouded his long-term future here. In the days after Clarkson signed, Nonis added four players who helped the organization in unique ways, Trevor Smith, Troy Bodie, Paul Ranger and T.J. Brennan.

* 2011 — G.M. Brian Burke waited one shopping day and then brought in Tim Connolly in hopes of supplying a first-line centre/winger. He also took a risk on Matthew Lombardi’s health and Cody Franson’s blue-line talents in a salary dump trade with Nashville. Only Franson remains — and his long-term future is not clear.

* 2009 — Burke’s busiest July saw him land defenceman Mike Komisarek, intended for blue-line toughness, joined a few days later by Francois Beauchemin. Up front Colton Orr, Jay Rosehill and Garnet Exelby boosted the truculence factor, while Jonas (The Monster) Gustavsson came ashore from Sweden. But None were good fits in the long run.

* 2008 — Defenceman Jeff Finger’s inflated contract will haunt interim GM Cliff Fletcher, as will the Alex Steen-Lee Stempniak trade a few months later. Oh well, he did bring back Curtis Joseph for a farewell bow and Niklas Hagman, later used as bait for the Dion Phaneuf deal.

* 2007 — Looking to enhance a high-profile trade for Vesa Toskala and Mark Bell, John Ferguson Jr. brought in sniper Jason Blake. But the forward failed to repeat his numbers on Long Island with a disillusioned Mats Sundin, who departed at the end of the season.

* 2006 — The Leafs took much flak in the Pat Quinn years for being idle on July 1. Quinn, as Burke would repeat years later, had a personal dislike of UFA practices. So Ferguson acted boldly, landing Hal Gill and Pavel Kubina on defence. They were good, but not worth the big money as the cap system began to lock in.

* 2005 — In the wild spree of signing that followed the end of the 2004-05 lockout, the Leafs picked up Eric Lindros, a player they had pursued for a decade. But Lindros was too battered by then. The rest of the signings that year were a mixed bag that included Jason Allison, a slowpoke in the ‘new’ NHL, the flashy but unproductive Mariusz Czerkawski and defenceman Alexander Khavanov from the Blues. All played less than a year in Toronto.

* 2002 — Ironically, one of the best July pick-ups by the Leafs was someone no one welcomed at first. Ed Belfour was signed after the popular Curtis Joseph left in a contract snit. Belfour was as gruff as advertised, but set the team record with 37 wins.

* 2001 — The Leafs and the media came to appreciate the sardonic humour of Alex Mogilny, but mostly the team enjoyed his 79 points in 2002-03, breaking a long reign by Sundin atop club scoring.

* 2000 — As the current Toronto regime has strived for years to change its dressing room dynamic, this was done in a day with Gary Roberts and Shayne Corson. Roberts became Sundin’s dressing room lieutenant, while Corson formed a tag team with brother-in-law Darcy Tucker. It all worked, albeit short-term, as the Leafs nearly made the 2002 Cup final.

* 1998 — Though they didn’t sign at the stroke of midnight on July 1, Joseph and Steve Thomas became integral parts of the run to the 1999 conference final.

Maple Leafs haven't always scored with Canada Day deals

More than one incoming hockey executive with the Maple Leafs has used Canada Day to try to remake ‘Canada’s Team’.

With new president Brendan Shanahan now having a say in changes under general manager Dave Nonis, here’s a look at how the Leafs tried to use our national birthday to their advantage over the past 15 years, usually with limited success.

n 2013 — No one questioned the value of Nonis adding David Clarkson to a meek lineup after the Boston playoff botch-up, but the cost and term made people antsy. A year later, with such a poor start to the seven-year, $36.75-million deal, those worries have multiplied.

Dave Bolland, acquired via trade, was another good bet coming off a Stanley Cup, but his problem was an early season injury that has clouded his long-term future here. In the days after Clarkson signed, Nonis added four players who helped the organization in unique ways, Trevor Smith, Troy Bodie, Paul Ranger and T.J. Brennan.